3 Reasons to Bring a Sports Speaker to Your Next Event

Author Donald Miller once shared during a speaking engagement in Memphis “[though] we honor heroes, we don’t choose them to follow. We choose guides. We follow someone who can help us win.” This sheds light on why sports figures are such great speakers as we have come to embrace both their personal and professional stories as guides for our own lives, believing in the end that their guidance will lead us to victories, too. Here are several factors that lend to their popularity and powerful audience engagement.

They are admired, highly respected and well-received.

Most sports figures, even those who have encountered career and life setbacks due to choices made, are looked up to; their advice often well-received. Perhaps it is at times because of these setbacks that their humanity becomes the defining factor of their heroism, as opposed to the number of MVP awards or Hall of Fame inductions they have earned. We all gladly celebrate the wins but it is in the losses where some of life’s and businesses’ greatest lessons are learned and what better speaker to convey these lessons in losses than a popular sports figure who has lived through them.

They have diverse audience appeal and crossover capabilities.

A sports figure can address audience members from all walks of life and all tiers of the professional workplace. The lessons they’ve learned on the courts or in dugouts are often applicable to others regardless of title, or lack thereof. In fact, it is often the aspects of a “rags to riches” story that many of them have which resonate with those listening who are searching for new ways to address old problems or innovative ways to institute growth within their companies- and lives.

Their topics are relatable.

Because of the nature of their professions and the attention accompanying it, sports figures have often had to learn how to navigate life under the lens of a public microscope. This navigation has created an arsenal of topics from which they draw- and to which audience members can relate. Sharing the inner weavings on how to face adversity and perform under pressure, how to handle the highs and lows of successes and failures, and how to implement appropriate training to accommodate specific goals will create an environment of understanding between the speaker and the audience. They will see her not only as a prominent social fixture but also as someone to whom they can relate, speaking to them from a podium mere feet away.

Whether you are looking for a keynote sports celebrity, a panel participant, or a motivational presentation on how the lessons learned on the playing field can impact your corporate bottom line, Executive Speakers Bureau is your first stop for finding the most talented sports speakers. Our extensive list of keynote athletes and sports speakers will be sure to inspire, motivate and impassion even the challenging audience!

Here are a few recommendations to get you started:

Lionel Hollins: With over 30 years of coaching experience, Lionel Hollins has coached on all levels (AAU, college, the minor leagues, and the NBA), and has become a well-respected coach and developer of players on and off the court. He speaks all over the country with audiences about leadership, adversity, and success. He has boosted team morale for corporations such as Comcast and Hilton Timeshare and has spoken to the Rotary Club and members of Memphis Streets Ministries. From his commencement speech at Southwest Community College to his talks at various schools, churches, and basketball camps, Hollins motivates and inspires people young and old alike.

Molly Fletcher: Molly Fletcher is a trailblazer in every sense of the word. She is a rare talent of business wisdom, relationship brilliance and unwavering optimism. As a CEO, she shares her unconventional and unique techniques that made her one of the first female sports agents in the high stakes, big ego world of professional sports and now a thriving entrepreneur. As she successfully negotiated over $500 million in contracts and built lasting relationships, she also observed and adopted the traits of those at the top of their game. In her latest book Fearless at Work, she talks about how to transform small moments into big outcomes in order to achieve your potential.

Brian Billick: As an expert motivator, NFL coach, and strategist, for more than 30 years Brian Billick has demonstrated an exceptional ability to take individual players to their highest potential while keeping his teams unified and focused. Currently an analyst for FOX TV Sports and a contributor to the NFL Network, Billick shares his methods for bringing teams together to focus on achieving common goals. Motivational speaker and author of several books including More Than A Game: The Glorious Present and Uncertain Future of the NFL which in part looks at ongoing labor issues in professional football, Billick’s engaging presentations challenge us all to strive for a “we” environment that holds everyone on a team accountable in the pursuit of victory.

George Foreman: George Foreman is one of the most recognizable faces in the world. He’s a world heavyweight champion and the force behind one of the biggest and most successful brands. Rising up from a hardscrabble youth to become a champion, only to lose it all, Foreman knows the power of getting a second, and even third, chance in life. He went from broke and disheartened to fighting again, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in the history of boxing. He ventured on to become the wildly successful businessman behind the George Foreman Grill, a best-selling author, preacher, and motivator. With his universal appeal and charisma, Foreman shares amusing anecdotes of his empowering personal journey. Both inspiring and humorous, he says, “Make every day of your life your best one. Take on the challenges and go from low on the totem pole to the top. If I can do it, then anyone can.”

Magic Johnson:Earvin “Magic” Johnson has become the most powerful African American businessman in the world. He is a Major League Baseball owner, an NBA Legend, a two-time Hall of Famer, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist and a motivational speaker. This business mogul has successfully parlayed his skills and tenacity on the court into the business world, propelling his company to the status of #1 Brand in Urban America. Magic Johnson also serves as Chairman and Founder of the Magic Johnson Foundation, where his unwavering commitment to transform Urban America continues through HIV/AIDS Awareness & Prevention Programs, Community Empowerment Centers, and the Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program. Celebrating over 20 years of success, the Magic Johnson Foundation has become one of the most recognizable philanthropic organizations around the world.